(Aglais io)
Did you know, the peacock's eyelets developed to confuse predators?
Quick Facts:
Size: Medium/Large
Wing Span: 63-75mm
On the Wing: Late Jul - Early June the following year
Other Names: European Peacock butterfly
Food: Buddleia
Predators: Blue tits, Pied Flycatchers and Song birds
Male and Females:
Males and females look visibly the same - The main difference is size!
Females: Larger - 67mm to 75mm
Males: Smaller - 63mm to 68mm
Breeding: Over wintering butterflies will breed after waking from hybernation in the spring. Females will lay clusters of eggs on Larval food plants (Mainly Nettles) - These will hatch just 1-3 weeks later and build a communal web on top of the food plant to protect themselves from predators. When fully grown, they will find a sheltered spot to pupate and will emerge, taking to the wing from July.
Location and spotting tips:
Fortunately for us, Peacock butterflies are widespread here in Cornwall (and across the whole of the UK for that matter!) They live for around 11 months, but most commonly can be spotted during the later summer months - although they may be on the wing during the winter too.
Whether it is in your garden or in the great Cornish woodlands - These guys aren't too fussy! But their preferred habitats contain shelter, woodlands, rides, clearings and edges, or basically anything that contains a buddleia! So your best bet is to head out on a nice warm summers day, such for a spot with a buddleia and take a wonder - it wont be long until those iridescent and unmissable wings float by.
Why not plant a buddleia in your garden to see if you can attract them too!
ID tips:
The Peacock butterfly is a very unique and an unmistakable looking butterfly, making it easy to identify.
Hybernation:
The Peacock butterfly can live for around 11 months in total - this means they need to survive our brutal Cornish storms during the winter months. If you've ever walked along one of our Cornish beaches on those hurroundus days in mid January, you're going to be thinking... how on EARTH can something so delicate survive such weather (I mean, I personally find it a challange, let alone something so fragile!)
Leading up to this cold period of hybernation, these wonderful creatures will actually turn some of their blood sugar into glycerol which acts as an "anti freeze!" They will then fold their black wings up, and hide in holes in trees, blending into the darkness and patently wait for spring.
Protection
Wings:
These incredibly stunning looking butterflies aren't all as pretty as they seem. The peacock butterfly is one tough beast and uses multiple methods for protection! Their brightly coloured and mesmerising upper wings are there for confusing predators, and their dark underwing becomes incredible camouflage as they look like a dead leaf.
Noise:
The gentle wing beats and delicate motions of a peacock butterfly, they can't be known as noisy - surely?! But these butterflies once again have proved their toughness. When they feel threatened, they will rub their veins on their fore and hind wings together - this creates a hissing noise that scares off what ever is a round.
Similar Species
Gatekeepers can be easily confused with things such as meadow browns and ringlets, especially on their underwing. Check them out to help ID your butterfly.
